GSK announces return of Men B vaccine to private clinics

GSK has today confirmed that stocks of Bexsero, the Men B vaccine, will be available for use in the private clinic sector from June

A spokesperson for GSK said: “We are pleased to confirm that the constraints that impacted UK supplies of the meningitis B vaccine, Bexsero, during the first half of 2016 have now eased and we have advised private clinics that they can start new courses of vaccination for patients, commencing the beginning of June.

“We are aware that many private clinics have waiting lists for parents who wish to have their child vaccinated against meningitis B. Over the coming months, we will work closely with these clinics to ensure that they have sufficient supply to meet current demand.”

Commenting on the news Liz Brown, Chief Executive at Meningitis Now said:

“We welcome the return of the Men B vaccine to the private sector and that parents will be able to vaccinate their children against this deadly disease. It does not, however, ease the concerns of the families who cannot afford to buy this vaccine privately.”

“We have argued consistently that the Men B vaccine needs to made available to all children via the NHS, a call that was recently supported by over 820,000 people who signed the biggest ever parliamentary petition. This call was rejected by the Minister for Health Jane Ellison, following a debate where many MPs from across the UK joined the ranks of those calling for the Men B vaccine to be extended.”

“Whilst the return of stock for the private clinics is good news, we remain concerned that the most vulnerable in our society will remain at risk from Men B. I would, once again, call upon Jeremy Hunt and his colleagues to vaccinate children up to the age of 5 as part of the NHS programme and in doing so prevent those who cannot afford the vaccine being discriminated against on the basis of cost.”

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